Lincoln named ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’

Dec 11, 2008

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., has been named a “Friend of Farm Bureau” for her work championing agricultural legislation in the 110th U.S. Congress. Lincoln received the award during the recent Arkansas Farm Bureau State Convention in Hot Springs, Ark.

“I am honored to be named a Friend of Farm Bureau,” said Lincoln, a six-time recipient of the award. “As part of a seventh-generation Arkansas farm family, I know firsthand the challenges our producers face each and every day.

“Throughout my tenure in the United States Senate, I have fought to ensure that our federal government stands behind our farmers so that they can continue to produce the safest, most abundant, and most affordable supply of food and fiber in the world. I appreciate the support of Arkansas Farm Bureau, which has been an effective advocate for Arkansas producers.”

Lincoln currently chairs the Production, Income Protection and Price Support Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. She is a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over international trade, and is the chair of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade and Global Competitiveness. Lincoln is also the co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Hunger Caucus.

Earlier this year, Lincoln served as a conferee on the joint Senate-House conference committee that worked to finalize the agreement of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, commonly known as the farm bill. Lincoln led the fight in the Senate Agriculture Committee, on the Senate floor, and in conference negotiations to protect the safety net that benefits all growers and ensures our country a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food and fiber.

Against those who sought to slash crucial support for southern producers, Lincoln fought to ensure that farm and ranch families are able to continue to access safety net programs that are triggered when families need them the most, when yields are low and prices are low.

A key objective was to ensure that adjusted gross income and payment limit levels reflected the reality of farming in an environment of skyrocketing production costs and restrictive trade rules.

Lincoln also worked to avoid the unintended consequences of establishing payment limit and AGI levels that would have the effect of hitting real famers by shifting landlord-tenant relations to cash rent, effectively placing production risks solely on the producer.